2 Weeks Old

Brody is doing so well! He has gained over a pound already, starting to be more alert and really studies faces. God has blessed us with the sweetest baby. I can see Brody starting to recognize voices, and snuggles so nice with Mark and myself. When Beau holds him, I think he thinks it is Mark! Beau's deep voice, Brody just studies Beau's face and snuggles and sleeps on Beau! When Brody is sleeping his smiles, baby noises, funny faces, and even little giggles are so precious.

A fellow adoptive Mom/Friend who has been encouraging our family for the past years. She stopped by and brought her camera and took the most amazing pictures of Brody! Thanks Pam!



"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."
1 Chronicles 16:34



During the past 4 years, our family has learned so much during this adoption process. It is so hard to put on a paper, the good the bad, and sometimes the broken heartedness of it all.
When I hold our precious Brody, knowing that there is a slim chance his birth father might fight the adoption. This little boy is so loved, not only by us,but so many others, spoiled having 3 brothers, 1 sister who can not wait to hold him, and his Daddy, who comes home from work and just can not wait to sit and snuggle with this precious boy! We will wait around 30 days for sure, and we will just pray that God's will be done!
Our Family and Friends have been so wonderful during this last 3 weeks. We praise God for them, for praying for us is the main praise. We have been blessed with meals, and gifts for Brody. I have been snapping pictures and more pictures for Ms. R. The pictures are so priceless and to share this with her, for her to see the love we have for him will help her so much!
We are enjoying and praising God for Brody, and Ms. R strength and love she had for Brody to place him in our home!
As for Mr. Marcus in Liberia, there has been no movement on his case! We are going to continue to wait for Liberia's laws, and leave it in God's hands! For now we are so thankful for Joni that she can bless Marcus and give him our love!
In the beginning of the this process, I never imagined that we would be so in love with 2 little boys! (Besides our 3 other boys)! One who is in Liberia, and this little one from Mississippi, who has completely stolen our hearts!

"For you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:5b

God had a plan for us, and now we can continue to pray for Marcus, and continue to praise God for all His Blessings from above, and in the mean time, we can love Brody as he becomes closer each day to being offically one of our family!

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

Thoughts......

Mark, Bradyn, Brynn and I all made it safely to Hattiesburg! We left home around 5:00pm on Wednesday, and pulled into Hattiesburg around noon on Thursday. It was a long ride, Mark and I took turns driving. The funniest part of the trip was we stopped at a IHOP to eat breakfast yesterday morning, and I guess I was tired, I walked out of the restroom, and thought it was funny there was a urinal in a women's restroom. Tell I figured out, I was in the wrong one! OH BOY!
We got settled in to our room and Mark slept, and the kids swam, but I could not sleep and my emotions were flying.
Our Social Worker was unable to make it to our meeting with R, she was with a birth mom in New Orleans. I talked with R and decided we would meet at the mall, on the way to the mall we noticed we are only blocks from the hospital! :) We got to the mall got a few snacks and diet coke, I noticed R right away, and she is a beautiful young lady! She has a little girl who is 2 1/2 and she is a doll! Brynn fell in love with her. We walked around the mall for sometime, hoping the DR would call and tell her what time she needed to be at the hospital. It was around 4:40 and I was thinking it is quite strange she did not have it all in place on the time, and what needed to be done in the morning! We decided to go eat, we met at a steak house down from our hotel. By than my guts where rolling and the no sleep/no food/high emotions where flooding my heart! I couldn't even eat.
We left the restaurant and departed. We all jumped in bed and slept. My heart was so sad, we traveled 18 hours and we do not know when the csection is! ugh!
This morning she has a Dr appt. and the SW is with her. WE need to know what is going on!
The kids are swimming with Mark, while I ask for prayers. So many thoughts are flying through my brain! I miss my older boys, and we can not stay here and enjoy Hattiesburg, while the boys are home.
Today is my Dad's Birthday, Happy Birthday DAD! Sunday is baptism for Jacoby! We will post more when we know.
Last night I layed in bed, and as I prayed so many verses of God's love flowed through my head!


Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
Proverbs 3:5

As I sit here, still no phone call!
This crazy journey of ours!!
I am so thankful God is in control!!
Thanks for checking in!

Birthday Boy Benjamin!

I can hardly believe Benjamin will be 14 tomorrow! Our feisty, flirty, fun loving boy is going to be able to get a drivers permit! Yesterday we had Mark's family come for dinner after church! The house was a buzzing with 31 people/children running all over. I made pork loin, baked beans, cheesy potatoes, bought some tea rolls and birthday cake! It was wonderful to have salads brought in, and some bars for snooping! I need to bake a birthday cake today! We will go out for supper with Grandpa Kenny & Grandma Linda and see which of my sisters and their family's can attend! Benjamin was a big boy, no wonder I was so miserable! He weighed 9 lbs, 3 oz!
He was so bruised when he entered the world! I did not put a new born picture of Benjamin, once his bruising went away, he was just a chubby, blue eyed, boy!
Here is Benjamin and Beau are with my Grandparents.
Grpa & Grma we so happy we gave Benjamin a good Biblical name!

Benjamin & Beau

Benjamin holding Bradyn

My 3 Sons

Benjamin and Friends from Church

With all this snow, I have learned that boys are so different than girls! Whew, snow days Ms. Brynn makes a list of activities to do! Learning to spell words is so much fun to see her sounds out words! Needless to say, she writes everything down! The boys never made a list!
Here is Brynn having fun after a cheerleading clinic! (She has the pep club shirt on!
Brynn loves it when her brothers have friends over. Brynn has 3 new brother, with Beau's buddies, Dallas, Gabe and Justin come over, she just loves to make things for them, and of course she needs to tell them good night also! Mark and I were talking about Beau and college, oh she got upset and said, "please stop talking about that, it makes me so sad!" Oh she loves her brothers!
Beau performing with his Show Choir!

Our back yard is filling up with snow!! The snow is level to our pool! Oh the days of warm! The Farmers Almanac predicts 40 additional inches of snow this month! Today the wind is suppose to whip up! So far, it is gorgeous outside, sun shining, at clean white snow, but cold!


Rumor has it, Liberia is/might be processing some adoptions. Of course, the man now working on our case is still looking for the man who was on our case. (Please pray that his gets done asap!)It is hard not to let your mind wander! Than you read a devotional and are reassured this is in God's hands! Yes, I am scared that the fear of unknown, what if we are not able to continue with this brown eyed little boy we have accepted as our son for the past 20 months? It is so hard not to keep a chin up and keep positive, but we need to be open minded also.
"'Come,' he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus." Matthew 14:29
We have faith that God will continue to walk with us no matter the out come. I just wish we had answers. It seems we pray the same thing over and over again. You see such miraculous stories of the precious children of Haiti being united with their forever families. God has been so faithful to these children/family's. God has been faithful to us also. To see the joy and read how God worked miracles for so many wonderful christian family's, to be sitting in the embassy in Haiti, sleeping on mats, talking to officials who tell you what you want to hear, than finally being on American soil, and being in your home with the entire family! Brings tears my eyes, and know God is here and in Liberia! M's needs are being met, right now! Which is an answered prayer! We will just continue to keep praying for God's peace, patience and protection for little M in Liberia! Wow, God is good, we can see that in the newest pictures, and having Joni part of M's life!
If you get a chance, read this blog, this lady's faith, has challenged me, and encouraged my faith! God Bless this Family and the little boy who is home from Haiti! Don't know this family, but what a wonderful reminder, of God's love for all of us, and how prayers are answered!
http://debraparker.typepad.com/
Have a wonderful week!

Ugh.....

Our Family....is waiting.....waiting for Liberia to get a moving and reopen adoptions, or at least the ones that have been processed!

Waiting, just waiting, and asking ourselves is this really going to happen? Is Marcus going to be too old to come to live with us?

We continue to pray(a lot), look at his pictures, and every once in awhile we get asked, "Are you still going through with Marcus' adoption?". "What do you hear about the country reopening, when is this going to happen?"

Sometimes the question catches you off guard, and you are reminded of the sweet little boy you have placed in the back of your heart!

How do you let go of a dream, that God planted in our soul and our hearts?

We continue to lean on God's timing. I just wish, we had a little bit of a hope that Liberia is working....working on the laws.

Our Agency director is in Liberia. Praying that she writes us and tells us how Marcus' health, life, school, what did he think of our package, did he say anything about the book we put together with all the pictures and if he has any needs. It would be so wonderful to see a smile on his face. Maybe tomorrow we will get an email, but I am not planning on it.

I see pictures and hear of children needing homes, and we are praying God shows us the way. I am so glad we can just leave it at the feet of Jesus and He will take care of Marcus. In fact, that is all we can do. I have written letters to Senators, (Hilary...did you forget to talk to the President Sirleaf about this situation?), Congressman, anyone who can help us families waiting.

Well enough of my poor me, time for bed.

Tomorrow I get to go with Bradyn's class to the Symphony.

I am so thankful we are all "healthy" here!! It was a crazy 3 weeks of coughs, fever, sore throats, head aches, and ear aches. We have so much to be Thankful for!

God Bless You All!

Check out this awesome day we can spend together... praying for those who need a home!

This is going to be just awesome!!

Hopes & Dreams

Just wanted to share this cute picture Brynn made at school!

As a family waiting for Liberia to reopen, we have not the slightest clue, when this will happen.
Sometime you think is this a dream? Is there really this cute little boy waiting for us? I see his bedroom waiting, with the bed made, clothes in bags, winter coat hanging up, Thomas the Train set sitting on the dresser from Marcus' 2nd Birthday, not to mention all the stuff we quickly bought in January to prepare for our trip! It is there, and we are not going to give up on him! Brynn always prays for her "brother in Liberia", so sweet! One night she forgot to pray for him before dinner, and all of a sudden, "When is my brother ever coming home"? You get so busy you set the thought in the back of your brain. Than your reminded of your sweet little boy when your sweet kindergartner comes home with a picture like this.

As we continue to press forward, we pray for God's direction. Today I started a new Bible Study, a Beth Moore one. Esther...It's Tough Being a Woman! I studied Esther in Coffee Break, and it was awesome. Here is some great stuff just during the introduction.

Ephesians 1:11 Even when we're blind to the evidence, God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will!

WOW, What a awesome reminder!

Coincidences are Miracles God intended to remain anonymous.

Another great saying! I never thought of it that way!

~~~~~

I am praising God for the blessing of adoption for a family in our area for the birth of a Baby Girl!

http://answertomyprayers.blogspot.com/

God has been so good!

Today I seen a group of ladies from Katelyn's Fund, http://katelynsfund.org/ at our local Bakery, so good to see the blessing of all the children that are home!

This journey is crazy we are on, praying that soon our answers will be answered, and God will continue to shine bright in our household!!

Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

Happy 40th Anniversary Dad & Mom!

Happy 40th Birthday Dad & Mom!!

Today is my parents 40th Anniversary! I have this great picture of my parents when we were at Ellis Island a few years ago, I would love to post it, but I think my parents would be very shocked I put it on here! I would be a great laugh to share!
We celebrated awhile back at a Steak House, it was wonderful night. Our family is getting tog
ether on Christmas Day, so we will continue to celebrate! 40 years later, 4 daughters, 3 Sons (in Laws), 3 grand daughters, and 7 (8) grand sons. God has been so good to our family!

Tonight we have a Christmas Party in Sioux Falls, it is fun to see the
Employees have cleaned up, and dressed in nice clothes. The weather is suppose to
change around 3:00, so it looks like we will have an adventure.

My parents got married in a blizzard 40 years ago, my dad could take
my mom to the same little hotel in town!

As we wait for some word from Liberia, I leave you with these verses:

As Psalm 37:7a, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him …”

Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary,
and they bowed down and worshiped him.
Then they opened their treasures and presented him with
gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.


Stay Warm, and continue to go and share the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ!

Prayer and Petition

As we wait, I hear in Liberia this process is proceeding. Which is great news! Not to be picky, but it sure would make my day if our I171's would just magically appear today or this week!

DH received his first gift the other day for our little guy.... A diaper/man bag!

Chicago Bears Bag!

We have an appointment next week to get our vaccines for the trip. Yellow Fever, Typhoid.

Make sure we are up to date with our tetanus, mmr and finish our hep AB. We all have to get the flu shot yet too! Last but not least, prescription for malaria meds!

As a family we need to decide if we should take our oldest son along! That is IF we travel before the new semester at school. Of all the thinks to worry about, traveling to Liberia and when we would go? What a thought! Beau is a sophomore in High School, has Show Choir, but no competitions until the new year! At least he could manage to missed a few practices of show choir. What B would see in Liberia would be a trip of a lifetime, also for him to see where Marcus started his life, and we feel it would be something he can apply to his life in the future! School policy is you can only miss so many days of class. Of course the knee surgery the first week of school put him at risk right away! If only we could of arranged it before school, yet we wanted a certain orthopedic surgeon to do it! Ugh! If we travel before the semester ends, (which would be absolutely amazing!) he would have to sit detention for every hour of class he misses. Do we go ahead and get the shots next week for him, or just wait and see, when we travel and if he can make an appointment than!

Friday night our High School Football team won, in the cold, rainy weather. Beau has been so good at just standing on the sidelines of every game, with crutches the first 6 weeks, and now cheering his team mates on! Tomorrow night the Nighthawks travel to Eagle Grove, a 3 hour trip! We get out of school early tomorrow, and late start on Thursday! GO NIGHTHAWKS!!

Today is dance day! Friday night we went with the dance girls and moms to see High School Musical 3! What a packed theatre of girls, and talk about how hot it was in that place!

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.